Shoe and arch preserver



Nov. 20, 1928. 1,692,510

M. .MlNuTmllrLo v SHOE AND ARCH PRESERVR Filed May 23, 1927 M. Minuifizzo sai,

A l auozmq'( Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

unirse. STATES narrar cerros.

MIGHAEL mirarme es HOeYOKa r .Si

AND dtfilA PRESERVER.

I Appiicanon inea May 23,

tions of the foot tobrace the footand prevent fallen arches and reinforce this brace forming portion of the inner sole so that it will be prevented from being forced out of shape after the shoe has been worn for some time.

Another object of the invention is to sov form the reinforcement or auxiliary bracing means that it will fit smoothly in .engage-k ment with the brace forming portion of the inner sole and allow the shoe to have la neat appearance.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the auxiliary bracing means for the shoe that the shoe will be braced transversely as well as longitudinally and thereby greatly strengthened at the shank portion.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a view showing the improved shoe in side elevation, the upper or body portion of the shoe being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the shoe taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l with the upper omitted, and Y Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the inner sole and associated bracing means.

The improvement constituting the subjectlmatter of this invention relates to the inner sole and, therefore, theupper or body portion of the shoe` which is indicated in general by the numeral l, has been shown in dotted lines. The outer sole and heel are indicated by the numerals 2 and 3 and the inner solo by the numeral Ll. The inner sole carries the usual welt strip 5 which is se` cured thereto in the usual mannerand extends along the same, as shown in Fig. 3. The shank and adjacent heel and ball portions of the insole extend beyond the inner side of the outer solo and this extended portion of the insole is bent and curved upwardly so that it conforms to the contour of the instep of a foot and will have snug litting engagement therewith when the shoe is wornE This portion of the insole will,

1927; Serialv No 193,685

therefore, constitute an instep brncingfpor-l tion whichis indicated by the numeral 6 and since it is formed of leather and is integral withy the insole it will be comfortable to wear and overcome a tendencyy which some people haveto turn the shoe inwardly when wal-king, In order tov reinforce the brace, forming portion of the insole, there has heen-provided a bracing sheet 7 which mayv be, referredv to. as an auxiliarybrace and; isoemented or otherwise secured to the under face of the inner sole. This bracing sheet underlies the inner sole, as shown in Fig. 3, and is curved longitudinally and transversely so that it has smooth fitting engagementL therewith and conforms to the contour of the kportion of the insole against which it fits.

This bracing sheet is also formed of leather and will serve to greatly strengthen the brace forming portion of theV insole. It should also be noted that a portion vof the welt strip 5 extends longitudinally under the bracing sheet and is secured thereto kin any desired manner.y The auxiliarybracing sheet also overlapsy lthe metal reinforcing strip 8 which extends longitudinally upon the instep portion of the insole land has one end secured to the heelportion thereof by a fastener 9 and its forward end portion secured against the ball portion of the insole andk covered by a pad -10 which may be formed of paper or any other suitable material. It is desired to provide additional bracing means for the instep portion of the shoe and in order to do so I employ strips l1 which extend transversely across the insole between its under face and the bracing sheet. These strips extend across the shank portion of the insole, as shown in Fig. 3, and have their outer end portions projecting upwardly from the j 'marginal edge of the brace forming portion rof the insole, as shown 1n Figs. l and 2. It

will thus be seen that the instep portion of the shoe will be very firmly braced both longitudinally and transversely and will not be liable to beforced out of shape when the shoe is worn. The strips 11 may be formed of heavy cardboard, leather, sheet metal or any other desired material having sufficient strength to reinforce the brace forming portion of the insole without causing the shoe to be uncomfortable by pressure being exerted against the instep portion of the foot.

Having thus described the invention, claim: A

1. A shoe comprising a main sole, an inner sole having its inner side portion extended transversely from the main sole along the instep and adjacent heel and ball portions thereof and curved upwardly to form a brace tor the instep portion of the shoe, an auX- iliary bracing sheet of stift' material for the instep portion of the inner sole and brace forming portion thereof fitting against the under tace thereof with its outer side tace spaced troni the adjacent side edge oi' the inner sole, and bracing strips Yextending transversely between the bracing sheet and instep portion ot' said inner sole with their outer end portions projecting from the bracn ing sheet and extending beyond the marginal edge of the brace Jforming portion ot the inner sole. j

2. A shoe comprising a inain sole, an inner solo having its inner side portion extended transversely along the instep and adjacent heel andball portions and curved upwardly to forni a brace tor the instep portion of the shoe, an auxiliary bracing sheet having a portion disposed beneath the instep portion of theV inner sole and a portion curved upwardly against the outer face ot the brace forming portion ot' the inner sole, and a metal reinforcing strip ext-ending longitudinally beneath the instep portion of the inner sole and 'secured thereto and throughout the major portion of its length overlapping said bracing sheet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MICHAEL MINUTiLLo. [Le] 

